The company began the process of creating the synthetic marijuana product, known as Syndros, with approval from the DEA in 2016.

The company asked the DEA to change the classification of Syndros to a Schedule II narcotic, meaning its use would be allowed for certain medical circumstances unlike organic marijuana, which is a Schedule I narcotic.

In 2011, Insys wrote to the DEA in an effort to keep non-synthetic forms of cannabis classified as Schedule I.

Advertisement

They argued against changing the regulation by referring to the “longstanding policy of the U.S. to disfavor domestic cultivation of narcotic raw materials because of the concerns about the abuse potential from farming this material.”

Last year, the company donated $500,000 to Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy to oppose legalizing marijuana in the state (Prop 205). Legalizing marijuana in the state and elsewhere would mean that fewer consumers would buy Syndros instead of other cannabis products found at dispensaries.